Toy building block



Aug. 3, 1948. w, HARNQUIST 2,446,179

TOY BUILDING BLOCK Filed Nov. 12, 1946 //V l/ENTO/Q H a rry W. HarnquistCM! id'ln-d'rw qi ArroRiveys Patented Aug. 3, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE;

2,446,179 'roY BUILDING'BILOCYK Harry W. HarnquishRockford, 111.

Application November 12, 1946, Serial No. 709,383 7 Claims. (61.46-25)This invention relates to blocks to be used as a toy and combined withother blocks of the same or different shape to form various designs.

One object is to provide a block having V- shaped recesses at oppositeside margins shaped to interlock with the complemental portions of otherblocks and be supported thereby even in overhanging relation.

The invention also resides in the novel shape of the block sides topermit effective interlocking of the blocks in a wide variety ofrelationships, thereby adding to the versatility of the block inconstructing different designs.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of theimproved toy block.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view.

Figs. 3 and 4 are perspective views illustrating the manner of stackingthe blocks to form typical designs.

The improved toy building block constituting the present invention maybe of any desired size and made solid or hollow and formed out of wood,metal, plastic, or other suitable material. As shown in the drawings,the block comprises a piece of substantially uniform thickness,preferably about of an inch, having opposite fiat parallel sides ill andflat parallel ends H Which are spaced apart to make the block about 2inches hig Opposite end portions of the block form truncated equilateraltriangles l2 of equal size with their apexes integrally joined at IS.The ends ll of the block form the bases of these triangles whose sides Mpreferably make an included angle of 90 degrees with each other. Thesides M of the different triangles on either margin of the block thusdefine a right angular vshaped notch. Thus, when two of the blocks areinterfitted as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 with two sides M of the differentblocks lying face to face, the longitudinal axes I 5 will be paralleland the overhanging triangular end portions l2 will be of the samelength and thus adapted to interlock in a similar way with additionalblocks.

Means is formed on the recessed sides of the blocks to engage with thecorners of the triangles or with the means on an adjacent block to lockthe two blocks firmly together either when they are disposed on theirsides as shown in Fig. 3, or vertically as shown in Fig. 4. Herein, thisinterlocking means is formed at the roots of the triangular notches inthe block sides, and comprises rectangular lugs l6, preferably integralwith the block and projecting outwardly from points of intersection ofthe side surfaces 14. These lugs, which only need to be wide enough toavoid danger of breakage, are in this instance about of an inch long andhave opposite parallel sides I! which are parallel to the end surfaces Hof the blocks. Since the lugs I6 are equidistant from the lugs ll, twoblocks may be interfitted with any side M of one block lying against anyside of the other block, in which relation a lug It on either block willbe in engagement with the end II of the other block. The two blocks arethus locked positively against relative tilting and remain sointerlocked in all positions, even when the supporting block with itsaxis I5 disposed verticall as shown in Fig. 4 is turned in a verticalplane through more than a half revolution.

This method of interlocking permits the blocks to be stacked together invarious ways, on their sides as shown in Fig. 3, with their axesdisposed vertically as shown in Fig. 4, or at any intermediate angle.The locking is so effective as to permit relatively rough handling of acompleted design without danger of the assembled blocks falling apart.If desired, the versatility of the blocks in permitting the building ofdiiferent designs may be increased still further by combining them withsquare blocks or cubes l8 as shown in Fig. 3, the latter having slots l9to receive the lugs l6 and permit the sides of the cube to come intofull contact with the block sides M.

I claim as my invention:

1. A toy building block comprising two truncated equilateral trianglesof equal size rigidly joined at their apexes with their bases disposedparallel to each other, the included angle at the apex of each trianglebeing substantially ninety degrees, and rectangular projectionsextending outwardly and parallel to said triangle bases at the bottomsof the V-shaped notches defined by the sides of said triangles.

2. A toy building block of substantially uniform thickness having fiatparallel ends and v-shaped recesses in opposite sides each formed by twoflat surfaces intersecting said ends, and rectangular lugs of similarsize integral with said block and projecting from opposite side edgesthereof at the apexes of said recesses, said lugs having oppositeparallel sides paralleling said block ends.

3. A toy building block having its opposite side margins recessed toform substantially right angular V-shaped notches, and an outwardlyextending projection at the apex of at least one of said notches.

4. A toy building block comprising two truncated equilateral trianglesof equal size rigidly joined at their apexes with their bases disposedparallel to each other, and a rectangular lug projecting outwardly fromthe side of the block at the apex of the V-notch therein, opposite sidesof said lug paralleling the bases of said triangles.

5. A toy. building. block comprisingjltwotruncated equilateral trianglesof equal size-'- rigidly joined at their apexes with their basesdisposed parallel to each other, and a rectangular lug pro J'ectingoutwardly from the side of the block..at the apex of the V-notchtherein.

cated equilateral triangles of equal size rigidly joined at their apexeswith their bases disposed parallel to each other, the included angle atthe apex of each triangle being substantially ninety degrees.

7. A toy building block comprising two truncated equilateral trianglesof equal size rigidly joined at their apexes with their bases disposedparallel to each other, and a rectangular lug pro- .i'ectiilgoutwandly;from; the; side ofithe block at the a-pex'of thew-notch therein: saidbases of the respective triangles being disposed parallel to and spacedequidistant from the corresponding sidelsurfaoes of said lug.

15 6. A toy building block comprising two: tnun-- HARRY W. HARNQUIST.

